We all have good intentions when we set out to make New Year's Resolutions but here is why I don't. The fact of the matter is numbers don't lie. Statistics say that approximately 80% of resolutions fail by the second week of February, so the odds are against you. No offense. We make them broadly, with no support and usually with a lack of preparation. You can still take 2019 by the horns.
Here are 5 NON-Resolutions to try instead.
1) Plan In Smaller Doses
When you are trying to make a big change committing to a full year is more than most can handle. When you fail you quit. How about looking at month by month and building on it. Whether its weightloss, finances or habits, cutting out ALL of something can be over-the-top.
DO: Plan your month in advance with intention. Write down what you want to accomplish. Prioritize it. Make a game plan.
2) Measure and Review
It's pretty easy to get to Friday and have no idea where your entire week went much less your day before you lay your head. We get so consumed with activity that we stop evaluating. We have no idea we spent 20 minutes scrolling on Facebook or you spend 90 minutes nightly preparing 1 meal. View your days and weeks as operations.
DO: Track and review your activities. You will naturally optimize how you do things. What gets measured, gets improved.
3) Evaluate Urgency Vs. Importance
I swear as a mom that's in marketing everything is urgent all the time, or at least it feels like it! Dwight Eisenhower said “What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is seldom important.” We spend all this time thinking and not doing because we are trying to multi-task and in the end, we can easily miss out on important things because we focus on the presumably urgent ones.
DO: Check them against the matrix and see where your daily activities land. Check which Urgent and Important activities you could prevent from happening again.
4) Become Impatient With Yourself
We are quick to get annoyed by our kids not getting something done but ever notice how much longer it takes for a task the longer you wait? Sometimes we make too many excuses for things we should have been able to get done. Insert a little focus and tasks could be completed in half the time.
DO: Ask yourself: “Why can't I do that in half the time?” Write down in detail what you will do to move faster and knock it out.
5) Be The Cheerleader For Others
The spirit of encouragement radiates. Growth is contagious. Ever notice how much better you feel after you've boosted up a friend who needed it? When you block out your own negativity and use the energy to encourage and motivate others, it will impact you for the better as well. Negativity is a choice.
DO: Choose positivity. Look for ways to lift up your friends and encourage them to be better.
I wish you all a prosperous, positive year of growth and abundance! Love, Beth